tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564Mon, 05 Mar 2018 17:50:34 +0000knittingsocksknitwritingbaby knitscontestpatternsBSJEZFibre + ClayKnitting MagazineKnitty.comRSIbooksfreegiveawayknitbloglinkssweaterwoolLYSRavelryWWKIP Dayfinished objectsfrustrationshowyarnAFIAddiAnn BuddBonnetButtonsDawn AdcockDebbie MacomberDomestic MissFreedom SpiritLondonLushRavelersRavelry yarnScotlandTECHknittingTwilleysUEFAWIPWoolfestaccessoriesbestbicyclesblog toolbloggingbrooklyntweedchristmascrafster.orgcreative_freedomcrochetdesignentryfeltfinishedfirstgiftinggive awayguestsin-lawsinspirationinstructionskim hargreavesknittingdaily.comknittinghelp.comlootmememock rib stitchmultiple_projectsneckwearnewbieonlineoverloadparentingpatternlinks.compregnancyproductspublicationsreadingreferenceresourcesretroreviewssheepsitessoccerspinningstashstitchstitch'n'pitchstitchestechniquestextilestop 10travelvintagewelcomewordleworld wide knit in public dayBrittKnitFrom Needles to Screenhttp://brittknit.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (brittunia)Blogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-5710273964844979004Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:51:00 +00002009-02-05T01:51:00.807-08:00knittingpregnancysocksSome Socks Just Don't Want to Be BornYes, I admit it. I am now spending a lot of my precious knitting time reading pregnancy books and guides. But hey, childbirth is serious business and I am not going to take it lying on my back! (I crack myself up, bahdum ching!) But I am giving it my all to finish up a few more projects before my arduously &nbsp;enjoyable stitching is constantly interrupted by the crying, er, um, cooing of babes.<br /><br />As with most things in my life right now, even knitting has become a analogous with my journey through pregnancy. In quite a few books, I have come across the idea that babies are born when they are ready. That miracle of biochemistry, hormones, and infinite spiritual connection between mother and child prompts both bodies into the dance of labor (can't wait to go to that sock hop...).<br /><br />I think of all my knitting projects as babies somehow. Some are born quickly and painlessly; some are the worst back labor you can ever imagine. And then there are some that just don't want to be born. A point in case: the black socks which weren't meant to be (at least for the moment).<br /><br />First, I always cast on at least twice with every first sock. I don't know why, but I think it has to do with the fact that I just can't count. Then, I picked several different challenging patterns thinking that I might actually be up for some lacy action. Thought wrong on that and dropped far too many stitches to decipher in a haze of black fuzz. And reduced to the reality of only being able to do some kind of ribbing or basket weave pattern, I cast on again....six times. And then it dawned on me. These socks are simply not meant to be born right now. I guess that means I better start knitting a baby cardigan or some booties real soon.<br /><br />Knit well and knit often.http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2009/02/some-socks-just-dont-want-to-be-born.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-7488897933614816400Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:10:00 +00002009-02-04T06:15:40.073-08:00knittingKnitting MagazinelinkswritingMy Next Article in Knitting MagazineSo, if you don't flaunt you achievements on your blog, than why have one in the first place? I mean, that is what knit blogging is all about, right? So, I am plugging my new article which appears in this month's <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.nationalknittingweek.co.uk/">Knitting.</a>&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SYlqDyiZQZI/AAAAAAAAApc/yyTLZ-fmi2w/s1600-h/KM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SYlqDyiZQZI/AAAAAAAAApc/yyTLZ-fmi2w/s320/KM.jpg" /></a></div>The article is about how wool is processed from "Sheep to Skein" (also the article's title). I am really pleased with how it turned out. The editor commissioned the piece when I met with her at Twisted Thread at Ally Pally last October.<br /><br />My next article was planned to run next month, but due to the abstract subject matter, I haven't yet been able to source enough high res images to support it. So the editor pulled it. Another baby not yet wanting to be born - but more on that topic tomorrow.<br />Keep your eyes peeled for the April issue, when my next article, "The Knitted Isles" is slated to appear!<br /><br />Check out my <a href="http://brittbreu.blogspot.com/">writer's blog </a>&nbsp;for a link to the article, but go out there and buy a copy. There are some nice patterns again this month and another great feature about the up and coming knitwear designer, Louise Goldin.<br /><br />Knit well and knit often.http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-next-article-in-knitting-magazine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-2755815348023165097Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:20:00 +00002009-01-08T05:40:27.228-08:00baby knitsfinished objectswritingGone But Not ForgottenJust as I did on my other blog, <a href="http://brittuniainmancunia.blogspot.com/">brittuniainmancunia</a>, I have to apologize for a long blogging hiatus. My trip to the US all November, Germany for Christmas and Scotland for New Year gave me lots of time to knit, but not much desire to write. Oh yes, and there is the pregnancy which I can now tell you about since I am officially 'out'. Since inviting this little life force into my life, I have struggled to channel my creativity into my personal writing, and dare I say, into my knitting (for a while). But now I am back, not knitting quite nearly as much as I am writing now, but at least I have a few FOs and a debut feature magazine article to show for it!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SWS_o1rnoDI/AAAAAAAAAmI/Z9CWoV2kciU/s1600-h/DSC_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SWS_o1rnoDI/AAAAAAAAAmI/Z9CWoV2kciU/s400/DSC_0266.JPG" /></a>Feast your eyes on my <a href="http://www.chopped-tomatoes.com/keep-baby-warm-leggings">Keep Baby Warm Leggings</a> , pattern courtesy of <a href="http://www.chopped-tomatoes.com/">Chopped Tomatoes,</a> which I originally came across while reading the <a href="http://craftzine.com/">CRAFT:</a> rss feed. Machelle's lovely design uses sock yarn to create a lovely pair of adorable baby tights. I immediately recognized Kaffe Fasset's Color Landscape Sock Yarn from Regia in Machelle's picture and was delighted that I had a spare ball leftover from knitting my husband's gigantosocks in the colorway Caribbean. A little teddy bear offered to model them for us:<br /><br />Mind you, the bear's legs may be as long as a baby's, but his fuzzy abdomen does not have the same proportions as one with a loaded diaper. I did add a bit more for the crotch than was called for in the pattern to accommodate bulky nappies.<br /><br />I started knitting them for a friend's baby, but he was unfortunately born with club feet. This means he has to get new casts put on his little legs each week and will be too big to wear the leggings by the time he is out of the casts.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SWTDffiD33I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/jp7ktyxujCM/s1600-h/DSC_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SWTDffiD33I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/jp7ktyxujCM/s400/DSC_0278.JPG" /></a>Another small FO I can share is the Shapes and Ladders neck warmer (designed by Sian Luyken) I made from some Let's Knit booklet I got for free when I bought the mag. It called for Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk which I also had left over from my lovely <a href="http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/11/home-sweet-home.html">snoody shruggy thing</a> I knit using Kim Hargreaves pattern Aimee. It really has been a month for knitting with leftovers. Gotta love stashbusters! I couldn't find a link, so if you are interested, check out Weekend Knits from Collins &amp; Brown where the pattern originally appeared. I used the DK instead of the chunky (which is actually called for), so the neck warmer is snug to say the least. I want to give it another go, but double up on the yarn to yield something a little larger for big headed recipients. It just barely goes over mine now. It has several rows of wrapped stitches before being dropped when continuing in stockinette stitch. It is quite lovely despite the size issue.<br /><br />My professional writing is really picking up speed. During my blog silence, I was actually working on 4 feature articles commissioned by <a href="http://www.nationalknittingweek.co.uk/">Knitting</a> , a magazine here in the UK. This month, my first feature appeared profiling the ceramic gallery/knit studio <a href="http://www.fibreandclay.co.uk/">Fibre + Clay</a>. In each of the next three months, I will have one feature article appearing in this magazine! I am so excited and satisfied that I have reached one of my largest writing goals for 2008. Now for the New Year. I predict many baby knits and parenting blogs...<br /><br />Knit well and knit often.http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2009/01/gone-but-not-forgotten.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-7983831819009499116Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:09:00 +00002008-11-03T09:22:12.891-08:00finished objectsKnitting MagazineLondonwritingHome Sweet HomeI am back after a self-imposed, month-long blog silence. It has been a whirlwind and very productive on so many other horizons. Now I am gearing up for a long awaited and well deserved respite in Seattle with my family.<br /><br />I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show in London where I met with Emma Kennedy, the editor of Knitting magazine. We discussed two features she had commissioned a week before and gave me another. So needless to say, I have been working under deadline for three stories and I am thrilled to be paid to write about something I love. The show itself &nbsp;was also very exciting. I got a lot of new ideas for story pitches and for my book. I also got to speak with prolific author and designer Nicky Epstein.<br /><br />London wasn't all professional success and shoulder-rubbing with knitting icons. No, I also spent a day going to the US Embassy to apply for an emergency passport. Then there was my walking excursion from Bloomsbury to South Kensington to visit the textile galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SQ8uOZqo1MI/AAAAAAAAAlM/j2ZQV9V-LOM/s1600-h/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SQ8uOZqo1MI/AAAAAAAAAlM/1g8WCnnyGr8/s400-R/DSC_0015.JPG" /></a>I also spent a good 12 days building a website on a citizen journalism site as an application for a craft blogging position. I haven't heard anything back from the judges, but I am not assuming anything. Fingers crossed something comes out of it. And if not, there are more opportunities to be had elsewhere.<br /><br />On the knitting front, I have also accomplished quite a bit. Aimee, the beautiful Kim Hargreaves pattern, has yielded a stunning plum snood in Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk. I knit it in the round on a tip from a fellow Raveler and the decreases make a barely noticeable seam up both sides.<br /><br />The 'snood' was a completely foreign concept to me, but leave it to British fashonistas to explain such things to us fashionably challenged Yanks. Apparently, its modern incarnation is my Aimee, but this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snood_(headgear)">link</a> suggests the snood is actually a glorified hairnet. Regardless, it is so yummy and soft; it is the perfect holiday knit and I will be sporting it on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Feast your eyes!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SQ8wchKhTnI/AAAAAAAAAlU/opXQJVKjyL0/s1600-h/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SQ8wchKhTnI/AAAAAAAAAlU/zcElPelDdeI/s400-R/DSC_0006.JPG" /></a>I also finished Minty Fresh's Bainbridge Scarf which is quite a feat since I have frogged and restarted three times. The first time, I messed it up and couldn't bear it. The second time I nearly finished it, but then decided that tension squares and gauge checks aren't as bad as they seem because this project turned out a lot smaller than it seemed it should have. So I frogged again, wound the yarn around the back of a chair and let it stretch out and straighten. I took it back up 10 days ago and added 50% to the amount of stitches to be cast on. I think it will make a lovely Holiday gift, don't you?<br /><br />I can hardly wait to go home to Seattle for the month. It is something I have been looking forward to for nearly a year and something I haven't been able to do since March. Hopefully I will have some finished objects to share with you from there. Lord knows I have packed enough projects!<br /><br />Knit well and knit often!http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/11/home-sweet-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-3941328999343245086Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:14:00 +00002008-10-02T05:48:24.867-07:00contestDebbie MacombergiveawayknittingKnitting MagazineI'm a Winner<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a>I used to complain about what crappy luck I had. For most of my life, I have never won any raffle, drawing or contest unless I entered it on behalf of someone else (like when I was 10, I entered my brother's name into a draw for a massive lego set at the local McDummies and he still pulled the heads off and scalped my dolls!)<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>For some reason, my luck has changed. Maybe it is because I joined a <a href="http://www.29gifts.org/">giving campaign</a> for the next month (check it out - it is a really cool project) or because I bought a special booklet of blank postcards and religiously send them to my one of my favorite knitmags.....<br /><br />This month, I have been the lucky winner of not one but two drawings from <a href="http://www.thegmcgroup.com/item--Knitting-Magazine--1009KM.html">Knitting</a> magazine! I can hardly believe it! Feast your eyes on what I've won:<div><br /><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SOS-y6khBGI/AAAAAAAAAkE/MDmiwKvGKMU/s320-R/DSC_0054.JPG" /><br /><br /><br />Yes, I have won knitlit author <a href="http://www.debbiemacomber.com/">Debbie Macomber's</a> latest book, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Twenty Wishes, </span>and a Twilley's Knitting Fun Kit (those are sprites in case you are wondering). Now, I have never been so inclined as to actually purchase knitlit for myself nor have I been possessed by the urge to knit sprites. But I guess there is a first time for everything.<br /><br />One thing I find very interesting about all of this is the strange coincidence (which in my eyes ceases to remain coincidence and becomes rather an instance of synchronicity) that Debbie Macomber was born in the same small town in the armpit of Washington State as I was. Knitting, writing, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakima,_Washington">Yakima</a>...there is a connection here. I feel it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Knit well and knit often. And leave Yakima as soon as possible after birth.</div></div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/10/im-winner.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-3491615207717438492Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:50:00 +00002008-09-29T10:04:09.187-07:00contestcrochetgiveawayknittingReader Giveaway at www.crochetandknitgiveaways.com on October 11, 2008<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SOEKa9njdtI/AAAAAAAAAj0/K18lINDguUs/s1600-h/cnk_button3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SOEKa9njdtI/AAAAAAAAAj0/tK7N19H-VrA/s320-R/cnk_button3b.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This is my second post on this fantastic <a href="http://www.crochetandknitgiveaways.com/">site</a>&nbsp;! This time the ladies have developed a super clever scheme to create a monstrous portal to numerous crafty freebies. It is the perfect opportunity to win stuff and/or promote your blog or crafty business. To participate, you will need to do the following:<br /><br /><br /><br /><ul><li>Have a blog (Wordpress, Typepad, Blogger, Moveable Type, Live Journal, or similar)</li><li>Have goodies to giveaway</li><li>Be willing to pay to send the said goodies to the winner</li><li>Go to the Crochet and Knit Giveaways website and post a link to their blog entry announcing the giveaway.</li></ul><div>Further details can be found <a href="http://www.crochetandknitgiveaways.com/2008/09/october-11th.html">here</a>&nbsp;. Now, off to figure out what I can part with from the ol' stash.</div><div><br /></div><div>Knit well and knit often.</div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/reader-giveaway-at-wwwcrochetandknitgiv.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-1937011051977197065Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:31:00 +00002008-09-29T10:09:01.832-07:00booksreadingWasn't I Just Talking About Purging?Wouldn't you know it. As soon as I get done reading and returning (or shelving) my stack of reading materials, I am suddenly flooded with more. I think there should be a 12-step program for this. I really do compulsively accumulate new reading materials. But hey, I guess it is an occupational and hobby hazard.<br /><br />And this is the collateral damage:<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.knitknit.net/book/">KnitKnit</a> by Sabrina Geschwandter (for my experimental side and the art historian in me)</li><li><a href="http://www.yarnforwardmagazine.co.uk/">Yarn Forward</a> Summer 2008 Issue 6 (market research)</li><li><a href="http://craftzine.com/">Craft:</a> 07 and 08 (lovingly sent by Mimi in Yakima)</li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1580178340/yarnharlot-20">Knitting Rules</a> by Stephanie Pearl McPhee (I need to laugh too sometimes)</li><li><a href="http://www.maggiesrags.com/">The Knitting Answer Book</a> by Margaret Radcliffe (Knitting Tote-Sized for Emergency Reference)</li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knitters-Handbook-Needles-Stitches-Techniques/dp/159223397X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1222361274&amp;sr=1-3">The Knitter's Handbook</a> by Elenor Van Zandt (Yes, I am obsessed with reference materials. How did you know?)</li></ul><div>The upside is that I now have a plethora of post fodder in reviews and such. In fact, there are only upsides: when I look at that stack next to my knitting bag, I know that I am home.</div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/wasnt-i-just-talking-about-purging.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-927706984145291419Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:17:00 +00002008-09-22T04:36:54.142-07:00baby knitsBonnetBSJEZI frogged it...just like thatI really hate to admit that I have frogged something, especially online. But it is the truth and although it hurts my knitting ego to say it, it has to come out: I frogged my EZ bonnet and my BSJ. There it's out. I said it. I need something I can do quickly and easily as the baby was born ten days ago and I have to get this gift off to her mommy in Germany. I also realized that the yarn I was using was way too big for the needles I was using and the bonnet was so tightly-knit, the baby's head would have been boiling. Hot Baby=Crying Baby=Headache for Mom<br /><br />Although I love and admire EZ designs, I can't really make sense of the patterns in the Opinionated Knitter, even with the help of the most experienced knitting mavens. I think I may just have to break down and shell out the big bucks to <a href="http://www.schoolhousepress.com/videos.htm">School House Press</a> for the how-to DVDs on the BSJ and other beloved EZ patterns. I know they sell them at I Knit London, but I am not sure I want to give those boys my money yet (which is a subject for another post entirely).<br /><br />Trolling my blog roll last night, I read a <a href="http://travelknitter.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/weekend-knitting/">post from travelknitter</a> on an adorable and *easy* design by Jacki Kelly <a href="http://thecompletefabrication.blogspot.com/2007/11/seamless-baby-kimono.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Seamless Baby Kimono</span></a>which I promptly cast on and made significant progress. I haven't given up on EZ, but I will have to postpone my puzzling for the sake of the gift.http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-frogged-itjust-like-that.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-3910584915485291621Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:02:00 +00002008-09-21T10:09:33.994-07:00bloggingYeah! My Header is Fixed!Thanks to <a href="http://bornknitty.blogspot.com/">rubbishknitter</a>, who by the way has knitted some fabulous <a href="http://bornknitty.blogspot.com/2008/09/highlander-there-can-be-only-two.html">Highlander</a> socks, has kindly helped figure out the HTML coding to fix my header image. Now it actually fits into the frame instead of spilling over on the right side. Thank you!!<br /><br />I did some digging in our veggie patch and pinched something in the lower back. But I don't care because it was worth every minute in the rarity of Manchester sunshine. Off to do some Sunday evening couch sittin' and delicious knittin'.<br /><br />Knit well and knit often. And find friends who can handle code.http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/yeah-my-header-is-fixed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-5410341444599366013Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:38:00 +00002008-09-19T01:57:36.682-07:00bicyclesRSIIt wasn't RSIThere is something about my damn bike lock. It gets stuck and is impossible to open at the most inconvenient times, like in front of the shop yesterday when I needed to pick up a few things for lunch or as I was on my way out to my Oxfam volunteering gig this morning.<div><div><br /></div><div>Now, you are probably thinking, 'What does this have anything do with knitting?' We are astute people, but the connection is one I just made myself yesterday afternoon. When the bike lock doesn't open, I seem to think I can jiggle it a bit to get it to open. This is something I have only managed to do once...and it took me 15 minutes (I kid you not). Coincidentally, this happened to be the day that my assumed RSI started to act up....</div><div><br /></div><div>Standing in front of the Coop grocery yesterday, I was faced with exactly the same situation. Rather than flick my right wrist in an unnatural and ungodly way, I used a four letter explative followed by 'it', and left my bike sans lock in front of the shop. For it was in that moment, I recognized that I didn't have RSI at all. What I do have is a piece of crap bike lock. And I shall let no bike lock get between me and my needles.</div><div><br /></div><div>Knit well and knit often. And buy an easy-to-open bike lock.</div></div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/it-wasnt-rsi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-4746951278787638291Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:08:00 +00002008-09-18T00:52:13.328-07:00christmasgiftingknittingChristmas Knitting Already?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNIEHnLgkuI/AAAAAAAAAec/hHWjH4X4EqE/s1600-h/SockMonkeyGirlfriend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNIEHnLgkuI/AAAAAAAAAec/ihJzKyYBRe0/s320-R/SockMonkeyGirlfriend.jpg" /></a></div>Clearly the country I come from goes way off the Christmas deep end far too early in the year. My only consolation is that most of the countries I have expatriated to are guilty of the same heinous crime.<br /><br />I am nowhere near putting on my Christmas music (an act strictly reserved for the month of December) nor can I bare the thought of all the red and silver foil packages and tinsel lining store shelves. I was just starting to ease into autumn mode and deciding where to plant my cabbage and Santa is already taunting me at every shop.<br /><br />Yesterday, the web was a whirl with posts regarding the frenzy of holiday knitting which has begun. It got me to thinking and I realized something: I knit for Christmas nearly all year round. I usually start brainstorming early in the year about whom I've recently gifted and with what. I also take into consideration those folks who are not glad recepients of knitwear (ie my husband) and what I have got in the ol' stash that I can bare parting with.<br /><br />Last year was not a year of knitted gifting. I got the hairbrained idea to start sewing reusable shopping bags out of calico about ten days before we found out that we would be moving internationally within six weeks. That was at the beginning of December and we still had to survive the holidays which included a visit from the German in-laws for their first American Christmas with my family (that was interesting), a last-minute New Year's trip to San Fran, and getting life in order to leave the grand country of Canada. My head spins just recalling it. Through our best efforts (Matthias is actually more skilled with the sewing machine than I), the bags were sewn, but unfortunately not embellished or gifted. They still await their fate, which is still a mystery to me, lying in a cupboard in the craft room. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This year I was lucky and clever enough to pick up a bunch of really nice Sublime wools at a warehouse clearance sale in early Spring for half price. I had a few simple patterns andtheir respective recepients already in mind. So actually, I had started plotting out my gifting a little late this year. The good news is I am only doing small things for five or six people. The bad news is that I still have four babies to knit for and there still is all that regular gifting to be done. Time to stop blogging and start knitting I guess.<br /><br />Knit well and knit often.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Sock Monkey Girlfriend Pic Courtesy of </span></span><a href="http://theraineysisters.com/?cat=16"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">The Rainy Sisters</span></span></a>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/christmas-knitting-already.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-8063043036945387927Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:46:00 +00002008-09-17T13:21:12.691-07:00booksdesignfelttextilesGorging Myself on Reading Material No More<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a>If I am not gorging myself on fiber of the yarny sort, then it is fiber of the papery sort. Be it library books, free magazines, newspapers, flyers, or orders from online, there is never a shortage of reading or browsing material around our house.<br /><br />Sometimes I wonder how my husband could even find be amongst the piles of literature and yarn taking up either side of the couches, coffee table, and dining table were it not for the faint cries from between the pages. There is so much that I have in my reading queue that I have decided to perform a purge and speed through the stuff I aquired on a whim.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNFVG7fkk0I/AAAAAAAAAeM/o1BWAAukPKs/s1600-h/nph-image.cgi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNFVG7fkk0I/AAAAAAAAAeM/FdMUoWUjwvg/s320-R/nph-image.cgi.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There are nearly five books that I have renewed for over two months now from Manchester Public Library and it pains me to think that I have to return them. But it's time for someone else to enjoy them. If you have been looking for them, please accept the sincere apologies of a serial renewer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Two I particularly enjoyed for creative inspiration were <a href="http://www.thameshudson.co.uk/books/Textiles_of_the_Wiener_Werkstatte_1910_1932/9780500285183.mxs/25/0/">Textiles of the Wiener Werksätte</a> and <a href="http://www.thameshudson.co.uk/books/Vienna_1900_and_the_Heroes_of_Modernism/9780500513132.mxs/20/0/">Vienna and the Heroes of Modernism</a>. Can you tell I have something for Fin de Siecle? Both of these books are gorgeous, and for textile lovers, it doesn't get any better than the design of Josef Hoffmann in my humble opinion. When my intarsia skills are up to snuff, I am so knitting some Hoffmann textile motifs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNFVlUUsYDI/AAAAAAAAAeU/w0fj1PKV7sY/s1600-h/FeltForward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNFVlUUsYDI/AAAAAAAAAeU/I1v2-mzGYwU/s200-R/FeltForward.jpg" /></a>I also borrowed <a href="http://www.interweave.com/spin/books/simply_felt.asp">Simply Felt</a> and <a href="http://www.interweave.com/knit/books/FeltForward/">Felt Forward</a> of Interweave provenance. Both are worth a good, long browse. I never managed to get any projects started (like I need to with all those WiPs on the needles at the moment), but I did get some fab ideas and a better understanding of felting techniques. The books seemed quite similar at first glance, but I was surprised at how differently they approached the same subject.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Felt Forward</span> took more of a knit-then-felt approach and featured sleek, modern designs with a Scandanavian feel. I was most taken by the home accessory projects like the Circles Table Runner and Placemat, the Frida Lights, and not to be forgotten Hoop Purse. At the Vancouver Art Gallery Shop, we had a similar bag that was running for over $100 Canadian. Why not do it yourself?<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNFUvpYwxzI/AAAAAAAAAeE/TSk4kWz5Pbo/s1600-h/Simply_felt_3-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNFUvpYwxzI/AAAAAAAAAeE/6vBjLkneeso/s320-R/Simply_felt_3-5.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Simply Felt, </span> on the other hand, was a fiber-felting book which looked at several different techniques such as machine washed fulled fabric (aka repurpose that old jumper into a hot water bottle cover or hot pads), flat felting (ie fulling three or four layers of thick felt made into book covers, briefcases and other projects with flat surfaces to be stitched together) and finally, seamless felting (for projects you want to shape without stitching like slippers or bags).<br /><br />Although most of these projects had too much of an 'organic' feel for me, I did really like the technical explanations as well as the bag and cloche hat projects. There were also great instructions for creating slippers and 'inlaid containers' (which you can see on the cover to the left).<br /><br />That was my library purge. Now I can absorb the three new books I got as a birthday present in May using a Yarn Market gift certificate from my dearest Mom and collected from my Dad's Bristish work colleague in North Yorkshire. He kindly brought them back through HM Customs and saved me a ton in shipping costs. Thanks Mom and Stuart. You are gems.<br />Knit well and knit often. And gorge yourself on reading material.<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-size:10px;"></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Images courtesy of Interweave and Thames &amp; Hudson.</span></span></div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/gorging-myself-on-reading-material-no.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-3381860415040443607Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:13:00 +00002008-09-16T13:49:09.600-07:00AFIbaby knitsEZFibre + Claykim hargreavesneckwearsocksAcute Fiber Insanity - AFISome people I know are very methodical about their yarn purchases and have managed to accumulate no stash whatsoever or hardly any except for the projects the have queued. I try to be one of those people, but alas, I am what the Yarn Harlot calls an 'organic knitter' and that leads to a many of yarn purchases on account of a condition known as 'acute fiber insanity', or AFI for short.<br /><br />Elizabeth at <a href="http://www.fibreandclay.co.uk/">Fibre + Clay</a> told me this morning that she also buys a wool without having any idea what to make out of it - purely out of infatuation or even AFI. It goes something like this, won't you agree:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There it is in the corner, tucked away and almost seemingly hidden from the shop's normal stock, calling you to scoop it up and caress your neck with it. Its color fascinates you and the texture sends you into throws of unspeakable ectasy. You lose all touch with the world around you and realize...it will be mine.&nbsp;It almost sounds like that scene from Waynes' World where the object of affection is instead a white Fender Stratocaster and any semblence of ecstasy is nipped in the bud by the 'No Stairway to Heaven' sign. Bummer, Dude, I got mine,</div><div></div><div>For me recently, it was Debbie Bliss Alapaca Silk in&nbsp;a fabulous deep plum (you know, the one that is all the rage this season on the High Street)...and it was 40% off. How could I just let it sit on the shelf? That would be cruel and unusual punishment for such a beautiful yarn, let alone myself. So I bought every ball the shop had with no idea what to make out of it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAG9zgPOqI/AAAAAAAAAdU/lHWof6roHoo/s1600-h/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAG9zgPOqI/AAAAAAAAAdU/V-Tns9qZOZk/s320-R/IMG_0053.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>One of the mavens at F+C told me it knitted up quite quickly, so I decided on a shrug-type garment (since I only have 10 balls) and scoured the net several times with no luck. Today, though, Lady Knitting Luck smiled favorably upon me in the form of Kim Hargreaves' <a href="http://www.kimhargreaves.co.uk/">"Thrown Together"</a>. What a talented designer, although Ms <a href="http://purlywhites.typepad.com/purly_whites/2005/08/damn_you_kim_ha.html">Purly Whites</a> doesn't seem to think so. I guess it is all personal preference and style, really. And this cute, retro feeling does me fine. If Hargreaves wanted to do haute couture, she would have sold her soul and be designing for Marc Jacobs. Sorry to be so simple minded about this, but hey, that's the way I see it.</div><div></div><div>There are so many fantastic designs it was hard to decide. I have decided on 'Aimee', the quick and easy shruggy-like thing with a cowl that graces the cover of the book. It is exactly what I was looking for, except the shelling out of nearly 13 Pounds. But I am all about supporting talented (and sometimes untalented) people as well as my LYS, so I bit the bullet. Besides, I can spend money on a pattern book if I got a bargain on the yarn, right? Here it is, awaiting me; my tension square begging to be finished:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAHWPBzibI/AAAAAAAAAdk/Vj3W5rX-TmM/s1600-h/IMG_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAHWPBzibI/AAAAAAAAAdk/lRFsI6zAwD0/s320-R/IMG_0050.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I cannot wait to get started on Aimee, but unfortunately I have to finish my EZ bonnet and booties which I am desperatlely behind on since the expectant mother gave birth three days ago. Still got a ways to go on this project. Good thing it's ity-bity:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAH-qjcxqI/AAAAAAAAAd0/nzputxO5nrI/s1600-h/IMG_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAH-qjcxqI/AAAAAAAAAd0/JLtJzHvkPQY/s400-R/IMG_0066.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then there is the Bainbridge Scarf for a deserving woman in my life I have been moonlighting with (er, does moonknitting work?)....sheesh, so many projects and so little time.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAHhGKGqZI/AAAAAAAAAds/rVtqy-bu2UI/s1600-h/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAHhGKGqZI/AAAAAAAAAds/KAQWKYiaK88/s400-R/IMG_0097.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAHhGKGqZI/AAAAAAAAAds/rVtqy-bu2UI/s1600-h/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But at least Bearski has some brand new Caribbean socks thanks to the help of Ann Budd:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAHLIGPDZI/AAAAAAAAAdc/uIdrNy6Ujto/s1600-h/IMG_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SNAHLIGPDZI/AAAAAAAAAdc/qYt07tWjbMU/s400-R/IMG_0049.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took these photos with my old Canon Powershot and I really notice the difference in quality between it and my Nikon D40, so I will try to use the latter exclusively from now on - for all our sakes.</div></div><div>Knit well and knit often.</div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/acute-fiber-insanity-afi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-7522238402938703756Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:06:00 +00002008-09-16T13:51:17.672-07:00Knitty.comtravelwritingIt's Alive!On my way back from London on Friday afternoon, I saw that the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Fall 2008 Knitty</span></a> finally went live with some groovy print-friendliness and of course, <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall08/FEATdiycharity.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">my article</span></a>! Three cheers! I am absolutely thrilled.<br /><br />Again, I would like to thank Ann, Amy and Mary - without whom this article would not have been possible.<br /><br />If any of you read the article and are interested in starting a community knitting project, feel free to drop me a line and I will be happy to help in any way I can, including posting about here on the blog or just giving general advice. I hope you found the article helpful and can use it to make a difference in with the people in your community.<br /><br />Today, Bear and I are off to the Lake District on the bike to enjoy the lovely weather and scenery, but also to scope out the <a href="http://www.woolclip.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">Wool Clip, </a><a href="http://www.woolclip.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;">a cooperative of women farmers and craftspeople who produce everything the sell in their shop at Priest's Mill in Calbeck. So their will be a full report as well as some other exciting news.</span></a><br /><br />Knit well and knit often.http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/its-alive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-4177290235929307544Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:34:00 +00002008-09-03T08:53:25.404-07:00contestfreegiveawayKnit and Crochet Giveaways<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SL6yamch24I/AAAAAAAAAc8/q64-OBXRyZw/s1600-h/cnk_button1.jpg"></a>Come on, admit it, you love getting free stuff as much as I do - especially if it is fibre, books and notions. I was reading the newsletter of <a href="http://www.yarny-goodness.com/">Yarny Goodness</a>, an independant yarn shop I browse at occasionally. After being in business for five months the owner decided to do a giveaway using a website featuring just such promotions.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SL6yamch24I/AAAAAAAAAc8/q64-OBXRyZw/s1600-h/cnk_button1.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SL6yamch24I/AAAAAAAAAc8/q64-OBXRyZw/s400/cnk_button1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241823186372385666" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; " /></a>That is how I discovered <a href="http://www.crochetandknitgiveaways.com/">Crochet and Knit Giveaways</a>. Brianna and Marly wanted to spread the crafty generosity that we crafty people have been known for and provide an promotional instrument for small and large sites alike.<br /><br />Another site I found with some crafty giveaways is <a href="http://Craftgossip.com/">Craftgossip.com</a> They feature interesting news from almost every craft persuasion along with fabulous contests offering supplies, handmade notions and even a $1000 Amazon.com gift certificate.<br /><br />Spreading crafty goodness....what is not to like?<br /><br />Knit well and knit often.</div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/09/knit-and-crochet-giveaways.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-2005988620742126457Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:18:00 +00002008-08-31T12:24:14.849-07:00knittingshowsocksForgot my Ravelry button at Creative Stitch and Craft...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLruIDykO3I/AAAAAAAAAW0/LXdezvSCDgs/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLruIDykO3I/AAAAAAAAAW0/LXdezvSCDgs/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240762938622753650" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">This weekend saw the biannual <a href="http://www.stitchandcreativecrafts.co.uk/tickets_stitch.asp">Creative Stitch and Craft Show</a> at Manchester Central which apparently was once called GMEX. Being new to the area and a craft addict, I thought I would toodle around for the day there while I waited for my final German guest (this month) to come back from his speaking engagement in Liverpool.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Manchester Central is a really impressive venue for shows: it was once one of three major train stations in Manchester. For me, there is just something about the massive expanse of the slanting roof, complete with cast iron, milky glass and a big fat clock at the apex. Then again, I am always taken by repurposed buildings. I wish we did more of that in America. Pictured here are some random skeins. I thought they were purdy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I must say that I was slightly disappointed with Creative Stitch and Craft. It was heavy on the card making, scrapbooking and jewelry making, but left much to be desired in the way of fibre. Nonetheless, it was creatively inspiring and in the end, less tempting for the yarn junkie that I am. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I managed to walk away having only bought a package of rubber point protectors for my sock DPNs. Can you believe it? I barely can. The point protectors were a need, not a want, since Bearski's Caribbean Socks were literally jabbing me in the hip through my purse. With my RSI, I don't need any other knitting related injuries. The stand I bought them was a really cool little shop called <a href="http://www.webofwool.co.uk/">Web of Wool</a> that specializes in self-patterning yarns. Cool concept, nice people, nifty yarns.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was also really inspired by the booth featuring a <a href="http://www.japaneseembroideryuk.com/">Japanese embroidery group</a>. There were some amazingly beautiful pieces on display and I was really dazzled by the kimono hanging behind the embroiderers. See for yourself:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrnvS27ecI/AAAAAAAAAV8/xp52Gd3PcTk/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrnvS27ecI/AAAAAAAAAV8/xp52Gd3PcTk/s400/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240755916101089730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrnvzQnvyI/AAAAAAAAAWM/3mYaNr4Ny6Y/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrnvzQnvyI/AAAAAAAAAWM/3mYaNr4Ny6Y/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240755924798783266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrnvvcd23I/AAAAAAAAAWE/QQ0LTkjmvzM/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrnvvcd23I/AAAAAAAAAWE/QQ0LTkjmvzM/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240755923774724978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></div><div>Very nice, very nice. These works are so beautiful, I may just have been persuaded to pick up another needleart form.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was also really happy to run into Serena, a campaigner at Oxfam who has organized a knitted petition: a blanket of individual squares, each representing a mother who has died due to lack of adequate health care. I chatted with her about what else she has planned for the blanket's presentation and stitched together a few bundles of squares. The organizers of the show, Trident, should be commended for their support of the campaign, allowing Oxfamers and their volunteer stitchers a contingent of free tickets and the space to do it. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrr4cHIZSI/AAAAAAAAAWc/M-VX_DsYW8g/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrr4cHIZSI/AAAAAAAAAWc/M-VX_DsYW8g/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240760471250298146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrr40DH7uI/AAAAAAAAAWk/5qpSqt2xUOU/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrr40DH7uI/AAAAAAAAAWk/5qpSqt2xUOU/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240760477675941602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrr3_QrDMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/YwvDbxMd2UY/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SLrr3_QrDMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/YwvDbxMd2UY/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240760463505689794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></div><div>The last highlight of my day was the workshop I attended on a whim. An announcement came around 2:45 for "Knitting for the Home". I didn't know what it was, but though 'what the heck'. In a really small group of 3, we got a private lesson in knitted home accessory design from the fabulous and talented designer <a href="http://www.belerion.org.uk/">Jo Hoddinott</a>. For a whole hour, I got to soak up design tips and learn to look at things the way a designer does. It was really interesting and Jo is a great teacher. If you read this Jo, thanks! I had a great time.</div><div><br /></div><div>And really, that was my day out. Next Friday is I Knit London Day. To go or no to go. That is the question. And then there is Twisted Thread in Birmingham in two weeks. So many shows in such a short span of time. Yes, that was a squeal of delight you heard in the background.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, only a few more hours til Knitty.com with my article goes live. I will attach a link tomorrow. Knit well and knit often. </div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/08/forgot-my-ravelry-button-at-creative.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-4954485804664876799Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:35:00 +00002008-09-01T00:56:46.391-07:00guestsin-lawsKnitty.comScotlandsockswritingEntertaining Whilst Knitting, Knitty.com Article, Socks Rock<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Entertaining Whilst Knitting</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />Yes, my absence has perhaps been noticed by you, my faithful readers, but I have been out adventuring and entertaining these past weeks. Any time I could have spent knitblogging I actually spent knitting, and that is what it is all about, no?<br /><br />The month of August has brought non-stop creative adventures as well as non-stop entertaining (I am afterall the flexible freelance writer who is home all day and available to keep guests occupied). The first week of this month I spent in Glasgow with one of my closest girlfriends being a lady of leisure hot on the decorative and architectural trail of Charles Rennie and Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh as well as galavanting (meaning puddle jumping) about the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh.<br /><br />While in both the first and second Scottish cities, Lisa and I stopped by several LYSs, <a href="http://www.yell.com/find/s/Fabrics-and-Materials/Wool-Shops/UK/Lanarkshire/Glasgow,-Lanarkshire">Marjory's</a> (south Glasgow) and <a href="http://www.k1yarns.com/">K1 (Glasgow and Edinburgh)</a>. If the Glasgow style were not enough to spark my further creative endeavours, than K1 did. I am now incubating a book idea thanks to these braches of a fantastic LYS concept, the yarn boutique.<br /><br />With rows of wee buckets affixed to the walls, K1 quirkily and uniquely displays its unique wool selection. Scrummers. The Edinburgh shop is twice the size as its Glaswegian mother and boasts friendly sales assistance who also immediately invite you to pull up a chair and wip out your WIP. Unfortunately, there was a knitter down: Lisa had slammed her right index finger in a toilet stall door, so we left our projects at home. Too bad, too, because there were some homemade cookies....<br /><br />Two days after my adventures up north, Matthias and I received Tine and Bernhard, my sister- and father-in-law for an extended weekend. I am thankful knitting soothes nerves.&nbsp;Now our best man, Erik, has come from Germany to spend his two-week vacation with us. And although we visiting a fair share of August's cultural itinerary, there are moments when the boys want to go out and do boy things (like motorcycling and golfing) which provides me with a little working and a little knitting time.<br /><br />Yesterday we trapsed around the Northern Quarter here in Manchester and today we went to Liverpool to see the Klimt show at the Tate. Both days, Sabine Geschwandter's new book, <a href="http://www.knitknit.net/">KnitKnit</a>, kept smiling at me at various book and gift shops. Guess that will go on the wish list.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div>My darling sister-in-law Jen and brother Beau sent me a belated birthday gift. But the best things come to those who wait. In the beat up box fresh off the plane from the States, I was surprised to find a gorgeous Lantern Moon-esque palm leaf bag, a couple knitting mags and three balls of some funky chunky yarn. Finally, a proper knitting bag:<br /><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SKsD3QXOlkI/AAAAAAAAAVU/GDHd5Siuaj8/s1600-h/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SKsD3QXOlkI/AAAAAAAAAVU/x_MVIZnPbho/s320-R/IMG_0101.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>The Spumoni Scarf had to be kept hush-hush virtually post-completion as the receipient, Lisa, is an occasional reader and knew I was knitting here bday pressie. My second albeit it simplistic own design delighted her. She rewrapped it after carefully opening it - she wanted to open it again on her actual birthday.<br /><br />I just managed to finish the Bigga Baby Blanket in time for my sister-in-law Tine to cart it back to Germany for our girlfriend Conny's new bundle of joy, Clara (no, I didn't want to ship it...I want to spend my money on more yarn). Wow, come to think of it, it is another original BrittKnit design.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitty.com Article</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span><br />Yipee! I am finally getting published in my favorite knitzine. With much hope and a lot of help from friends and strangers alike, I researched, drafted and polished an article on starting your own local community knitting project. The article is based on a project I put together while living in Vancouver, BC, and interviews I carried out with community knitting mavens Ann Rubin from <a href="http://www.afghansforafghans.org/">afghans for Afghans</a>, Amy Berman of <a href="http://www.motherbearproject.org/">Mother Bear Project</a> and Mary Colucci of <a href="http://www.warmupamerica.com/">Warm Up! America</a>. I thank them all sincerely for the work they are doing and for their contribution to the article which will hopefully inspire and empower readers to make a difference in their local communities.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Socks Rock</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Alas, I only have one project on the go at the moment and I am feeling the need to start a few more...perhaps a sexy purple shrug with the Debbie Bliss Silk Cashmere in the most sensuous of plums which appears to be a trend color this fall.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SKsH5f8Fy6I/AAAAAAAAAVc/FbwiDl9YZU0/s1600-h/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SKsH5f8Fy6I/AAAAAAAAAVc/TFGstTTshEY/s320-R/IMG_0106.JPG" /></a></div><br />But Bearski's Caribbean Socks are coming along quite nicely and the pain that I once felt while doing my first sock as subsided with the valuable guidance of Ann Budd. I have added a few photos. &nbsp;Next to Budd's book, the finished sock doesn't look that big, but&nbsp;for comparison's sake here is a photo of the sock next to my left hand. My husband truly has pedes of legendary proportion.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SKsILonPS-I/AAAAAAAAAVk/Qx1cRnRTt5g/s1600-h/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SKsILonPS-I/AAAAAAAAAVk/YfjSYveJE_Q/s320-R/IMG_0108.JPG" /></a></div><br />Now I think I understand why so many knitters are hooked on socks. Quickly knit, useful, and one a basic pattern is memorized, easily cutomized.<br /><br />Knit well. Knit often. And read my article come September 1st!</div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/08/entertaining-whilst-knitting-knittycom.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-4474936609850631383Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:01:00 +00002008-12-11T14:46:25.477-08:00Ann BuddbooksFibre + ClayLYSRSIsocksDIY Sock Knitting, Replacing RSI with Reading, New LYSI have really had to take it easy with the knitting. Since I am still so fanatical about the craft, I have a tendency to go on knitting binges which sometimes last up to five hours in one sitting. But, hey, what is a solitary expat writer to do? It probably doesn't help that I also spend the good part of my day (when I am not knitting) at a laptop, writing things for the benefit of your reading pleasure and our bank account.<div><br /><div>Two weeks ago, I got this dull ache in my right wrist and forearm. It started while I was trying to flick open my bicycle lock and has been hanging on hard ever since. I have even had it briefly in my left hand on occasion. So, Bearski's Caribbean Socks, the BSJ ala Brittunia, the Bigga Baby Blanket and the Spumoni Scarf are all resting nicely in my craft room awaiting my return. Well, okay, I have spent some time on a sock because I just couldn't help myself. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/brittunia/bearskis-caribbean-socks">Bearski's Caribbean Socks</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SI3x7iY2qwI/AAAAAAAAAUM/aOT1c1xa-fA/s1600-h/GSSocks.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SI3x7iY2qwI/AAAAAAAAAUM/aOT1c1xa-fA/s320/GSSocks.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228100747592641282" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; " /></a><div>I have restarted the socks after finding Ann Budd's book, <a href="http://www.interweave.com/knit/books/GS_KnittingSocks/default.asp">Getting Started Knitting Socks</a> (Interweave Press, 1997), at my newly designated LYS. Being the perfectionist knitter that I was, I frogged my first sock in the name of ultimate technique. What I had initially done was used an amalgamation of my own propensity to ignore what a pattern tells me to do, the free pattern that came with the wool (it was for Regia 6ply jacquard when I had bought 4ply - go figure!) and the amazing step-by-step pictoral tutorial, <a href="http://www.royea.net/sockdemo1.html">Socks 101</a>, put together by Terri Lee Royea.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.interweavepress.com/">Interweave Press</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, that strategy was just too all over the place for my brain. And I wasn't happy with the transition I had made while knitting the gusset. The transition was just plain bizarre in retrospect - I knitted the first row, purled the second and knitted the third three times. It looked crap to put it bluntly, so it was unravelled. And now I am trusting Ann to guide me through the anatomy of my first sock knitted according to a real pattern!</div><div><br /></div><div>Getting Started is a really great book with a simple, easy-to-follow layout and clear, demonstrative photos and illustrations. What I really like about this book is that it has small troubleshooting sections for each part of the sock (ie those pesky, loose stitches at the beginning/end a needle, matching lengths, and preventing holes in the gusset). It is exactly what I was looking for.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">New LYS: Fibre + Clay in Knutsford</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SI37GGgUZ3I/AAAAAAAAAUU/bxgSDlfsaCE/s1600-h/knitstudio.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SI37GGgUZ3I/AAAAAAAAAUU/bxgSDlfsaCE/s400/knitstudio.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228110824690968434" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; " /></a><div>I cannot begin to tell you how amazing <a href="http://fibreandclay.co.uk/">Fibre + Clay</a> is! Given, there isn't much around these parts and I survived my first couple years of fiber obsession shopping outlet craft stores and big boxes. Owned by a husband and wife team and manned by several experience knitters who exude not only a love of but a passion for teaching the craft, Fibre + Clay features ceramic and textile art on the ground floor and a wool department to die for on the top floor. They have a library where, for a deposit of ten pounds, you can check out the latest knitting books and preview them. They have pattern support and amazing notions like handcrafted buttons, not to mention some really great bags. (Photo courtesy of Fibre + Clay website)</div><div><br /></div><div>And their twice weekly knit gatherings, complete with tea, coffee and biscuits, are a really wonderful, nurturing place to soak up inspiration and new skills. Get there if you can - I managed to while they were having their summer sale...40% off some great stuff (nine balls of Regia 4ply, 10 balls of Debbie Bliss Silk Alpaca, and assorted Rowan Pure Wool for my Mochimochi Land knitlets).</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Reading Replaces RSI</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div>I don't know if RSI is something that afflicts every knitter, but I don't think it is. I decided that if I can't binge knit, then at least I can read about it in books for hours on end. I went to the Central Library this morning in search of magazines to profile for my budding journalistic repertoire and came home packing three inspirational books: </div><div><br /></div><div>Zen and the Art of Knitting by Bernadette Murphy</div><div>Machine and Hand Knitting Pattern Design by Kathleen Kinder</div><div>Felt Forward by Maggie Pace</div><div>Simply Felt by Margaret Docherty and Jayne Emerson</div><div>Textiles of the Wiener Werkstätte 1910-1932</div><div>Vienna 1900 and the Heroes of Modernism</div><div><br /></div><div>I think that is enough to saturate my need for inspiration, don't you. I am really excited about all of them and will let you know what I think. I always do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Knit well and knit often.</div></div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/07/diy-sock-knitting-replacing-rsi-with.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-2033280890329946258Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:45:00 +00002008-07-28T10:04:06.754-07:00AddiBSJButtonscontestDawn AdcockDomestic MissEZFibre + Claygive awayknitblogknittingLYSRavelryRSIDomestic Miss Give Away Contest: Addi Turbo Needles and Artisan Buttons from South AfricaYes, I know it has been over a week since my last post. I am a lazy blogger, but a binge knitter and that has led to some strange RSI symptoms. RubbishKnitter at <a href="http://bornknitty.blogspot.com/">BornKnitty</a> suggested paracetamol (European equivalent to acetaminophin) before bed and seconded my learning Continental style. And I spent 3 days on the back of a motorcycle ogling sheep and the amazing Welsh landscape. Hence I have been off the needles for nearly five days until today.<div><br /></div><div>I had my first internet date today with <a href="http://www.domestic-miss.blogspot.com/">DomesticMiss</a>, one of my first friends on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>, to check out her LYS,<a href="http://fibreandclay.co.uk/"> Fibre + Clay</a> in Knutsford, Chesire and its biweekly knit-in. We had a pre-coffee and a post-coffee and talked about so many things we are both passionate about (writing, knitting, etc).<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In celebration of the impressive completion of her first big knitting project, a <a href="http://http://domestic-miss.blogspot.com/2008/07/and-finally-she-makes-it.html">lace scarf,</a> Domestic Miss is <a href="http://domestic-miss.blogspot.com/2008/07/knitting-give-away.html">giving away</a> a pair of Addi Turbo Needles and 4 artisan buttons from South Africa. Congrats, Steph. Well done.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fibre + Clay, BTW, is absolutely amazing! I cannot even tell you how inspiring it was to be surrounded by so many beautifully crafted objects, amazing wools, haberdashery, bags (squeal!) and an incredibly library of borrowable books. So good. Can't wait to go back. More in my next post.</div><div><br /></div><div>The BSJ is in its second incarnation. I have changed needles and wool and am having a much easier time with the aid of <a href="http://www.3gcs.com/adcock/free%20patterns/BSS%20Notes.htm">Dawn Adcock's notes</a> (hat tip to Knitlist). I am not good at reading conventional patterns, so a little help understanding the method of EZ's (ingenious) madness is most welcome. Will post pics soon once the one-piece wonder has taken a more concrete shape.</div><div><br /></div><div>Be nice to those wrists. Knit well and knit often (but remember to take breaks!)</div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/07/domestic-miss-give-away-contest-addi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-6243775727460372883Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:51:00 +00002008-12-11T14:46:27.064-08:00baby knitsBSJfinishedsweaterBaby's First Sweater: Women's U-Neck Vest by Mari Lynn Patrick<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SH4csrDa97I/AAAAAAAAATA/ZyKApyDfA6E/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SH4csrDa97I/AAAAAAAAATA/ZyKApyDfA6E/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223644171593250738" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><span><span>Ta-Dah!</span></span><div><br /></div><div><span><span><br />My labor of love is now complete...and boy, were those creative contractions ever painful.</span></span><div><br /></div><div><span><span><br />After four semi-froggings and subsequent reknits, the U-Neck Vest is finally wearable. Well, almost.</span></span><div></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SH4csoixpEI/AAAAAAAAATI/CpSIuFurdIY/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SH4csoixpEI/AAAAAAAAATI/CpSIuFurdIY/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223644170919453762" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I have to say I am mostly satisfied. It fits really nicely through the waist and bust, but the sleeves are just too long and a bit puffy. </span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Maybe they will loose some volume in the wash. We'll see.</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So now I am on a rampant spree of baby knitting. Man, this procreation business seems to be contagious right now. Well, I guess that is what happens when you and your friends are thirty-somethings. </span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SH4fSBKFhNI/AAAAAAAAATY/1IJS3q4lf1g/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><br /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SH4iZtortcI/AAAAAAAAATg/uXEAHPJzw20/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SH4iZtortcI/AAAAAAAAATg/uXEAHPJzw20/s400/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223650442938660290" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I just started EZ's Baby Surprise Jacket. Who hasn't knitted one of those? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I also have an improvised baby blanket on the go too. It is amazing how quickly chunky yarn is knitted on 35mm needles- Above is a preview of the Bigga Baby Blanket.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ah yes, then there was my lone attempt at hand spinning. It was yet another subtle reminder at how challenged I am in the manual dexterity department. It probably didn't help that I was doing it in public with several experienced spinners looking on while winging constantly about the migraine I'd had for almost a week at that point. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The Kopfschmerzen are gone (thank God) and has given way to a curious pain arising in my right wrist. Is it time to learn Continental so I can switch-knit? Perhaps. With all that lovely (and cheap) roving I acquired at Woolfest, I will again pick up the lovely spindle Pen lent me, but not yet. I have to bond with Elizabeth first.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Knit well and knit often. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/07/babys-first-sweater-womens-u-neck-vest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-1598539665770070903Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:58:00 +00002008-07-06T02:01:25.594-07:00blog toolknitblogknittingwordleCheck out what Wordle.net made from my post<a href="http://wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/54388/Wordle_for_BrittKnit_July4" title="Wordle: Wordle for BrittKnit July4"><img src="http://wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/54388/Wordle_for_BrittKnit_July4" style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd" /></a><div><br /></div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/07/check-out-what-wordlenet-made-from-my.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-8779142348703553328Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:02:00 +00002008-12-11T14:46:30.585-08:00lootsheepshowsocksspinningstashwoolWoolfestyarnWoolfest 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5Dz9gTPtI/AAAAAAAAASk/e-i80IDVUSg/s1600-h/DSC_0044.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5Dz9gTPtI/AAAAAAAAASk/e-i80IDVUSg/s400/DSC_0044.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219183578131414738" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4nQzLt98I/AAAAAAAAAPM/6J9tPZ0V8dg/s1600-h/DSC_0057.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-decoration: underline;float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4nQzLt98I/AAAAAAAAAPM/6J9tPZ0V8dg/s320/DSC_0057.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219152187739731906" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Welcome to Woolfest 2008</span></a><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div align="left">Alright, so I am a little late posting about my trip to Cumbria in Northern England, but I have very valid excuses. First, I maxed out my upload limit on my Flickr account in June, and I it took a while to get all my photos organized, tagged and RESIZED (so now I can upload a lot more pics than before). Who really needs all those high res images of my ever growing stash? Secondly, I was actually getting paid for writing this week, hence it became the priority. Not that I would ever neglect my two or three BrittKnit readers (who I do appreciate; especially you, Dad).</div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left">We took off from Manchester at around 10am and finally arrived at the agricultural centre in Cockermouth. We had to park in the overflow lot because it was so packed. There were tons of ladies with their packed lunches and thermos cans sitting in their cars as we were finally making our way in. Those were the hardcores that must have been there when the gates were opened.<br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4lb4GeaMI/AAAAAAAAAO0/hs-evW5gsL8/s1600-h/DSC_0047.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4lb4GeaMI/AAAAAAAAAO0/hs-evW5gsL8/s320/DSC_0047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219150179015223490" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span><div align="left">Penny, Kate, Charlotte and I walked up the first aisle oohing and awing while looking at all the different sheep, alpacas and a lone Angora rabbit in a tiny cage. Poor thing. No wonder it seemed so neurotic´. Penny and Kate were first out of the blocks in making their first purchase. They both spin, so the endless bags of fleece and roving was of far greater interest to them at the onset. I decided to entertain the idea of starting to spin. Logic told me I already had one obsessive hobby and I didn't need another one. Passion told me that I had to try it out. I was just too enticed my all the possibilities: spindle spinning, plying, felting, dry felting with a needle, jewelry making...</div><div align="left"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4qxCjB-5I/AAAAAAAAAPs/D56bFsxA5x0/s1600-h/DSC_0082.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4qxCjB-5I/AAAAAAAAAPs/D56bFsxA5x0/s320/DSC_0082.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219156040154741650" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span><div align="left">What was truly unique about this experience was to finally unite for myself cognitively all the elements of our craft. From the animals to the fleece, the rovings, the spindles, wheels and their makers, the plants and dried herbs for dying, the farmers, the knitters, weavers, spinners and felters; the looms, basket weavers, and the unique hanks and skeins of hand spun and dyed yarn. There were utterly hundreds of people utterly devoted to a wool world. It was truly exhilarating.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">The four of us drifted apart and then back together again through the aisles and aisles of fiber goodness. That is the thing when you go to a trade show with a group of people - you are bound to be split up at some point, but you all seem to manage to collide again eventually. After the first round or so, Kate and Charlotte went back to the car due to Kate's very unfortunate allergy to wool - but that does not stop her from going to wool shows nor from working with it constantly. Now that is passion.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4tBpnW5fI/AAAAAAAAAP0/-C4ov1uCEJw/s1600-h/DSC_0065.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4tBpnW5fI/AAAAAAAAAP0/-C4ov1uCEJw/s320/DSC_0065.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219158524543034866" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; " /></a><br /></span><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">Penny and I made another sweep through the aisles before retiring to a semi-isolated hallway for a cup of tea and some mini quiche we had picked up at a farm store on our way up the M6. It was much needed after all of that weaving through aisles and stand packed with wool-crazed women.</div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">I held myself back with buying until I had surveyed the offerings every stand and compared prices. I am a thrift knitter (only to later splurge on things I really, really want), so pricing is a necessary part of any shopping ritual for me. </div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG41vOgumhI/AAAAAAAAAQM/2M-407wkyMM/s1600-h/DSC_0066.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG41vOgumhI/AAAAAAAAAQM/2M-407wkyMM/s320/DSC_0066.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219168103634475538" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">On<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"> </span>one of our passes through the aisles, I saw some really entertaining things. The picture above of the costumed women is particularly interesting to me: Little Bo Peep Meets Marie Antoinette. Everything in her costume was made of and related to the wool industry. There was a real focus here on British wool as well as self-production. The picture directly above this paragraph captures nutty knitter <a href="http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/tm_headline=you-big-knit&amp;method=full&amp;objectid=19340236&amp;siteid=50081-name_page.html">Ingrid Wagner</a> from Newcastle who will very soon be attempting to break the world record for knitting with the largest needles. Those little girls were so ecstatic to be giving it a shot. I got a particular kick out of this image - a mandolin player taking a mid-concert break to eat some ice cream. When I took the shot, he satisfyingly knew he'd been caught. It was a lovely moment.</div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4449zCfII/AAAAAAAAAQU/brX9VJy5lpk/s1600-h/DSC_0091.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4449zCfII/AAAAAAAAAQU/brX9VJy5lpk/s320/DSC_0091.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219171569481448578" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">The culmination of the Woolfest experience was the tatie pot (potato/lamb/black pudding stew) and spin/knit-in that evening which were a benefit for the <a href="http://www.woolclip.com/">Wool Clip</a>, the organizers of Woolfest. The Wool Clip is a co-op of farming and craftswomen in Cumbria. It sells materials and products made from their own sheep and goats. </div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">We were most likely the youngest people in the room of over one hundred. Two other younger women, looking sheepishly for a place to sit, joined us at our table. Low and behold, one of them was from Seattle too! It truly is a small world. After a surprisingly tasty meal (black pudding had scared me before that), we took out our projects. Tables started coming down and wheels began to appear. </div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">Here are a few of my favorite shots of the spin-in:<br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;">I like these two photos for the intricacies and details shown of the wheels, spindles and hands. They are all working separately, but somehow come together in these images to become one working unit. In a sense, we craftspeople are.<br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5A93v6SpI/AAAAAAAAARs/n2m9zRshyfk/s1600-h/DSC_0094.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5A93v6SpI/AAAAAAAAARs/n2m9zRshyfk/s400/DSC_0094.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219180449850083986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5AgONBqvI/AAAAAAAAARc/WHe9xOQoHDU/s1600-h/DSC_0096.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5AgONBqvI/AAAAAAAAARc/WHe9xOQoHDU/s400/DSC_0096.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219179940481706738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;">I thought this was interesting. We have a women spinning and another women drawing the spinner's portrait.</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5A9jCBqAI/AAAAAAAAARk/zUqmnNqo5tE/s1600-h/DSC_0088.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5A9jCBqAI/AAAAAAAAARk/zUqmnNqo5tE/s400/DSC_0088.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219180444288919554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;">And here are just a few more gratuitous sheep pics. You gotta love 'em:</div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4_KJRRNxI/AAAAAAAAARM/5bb9WnIvxYc/s1600-h/DSC_0048.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4_KJRRNxI/AAAAAAAAARM/5bb9WnIvxYc/s320/DSC_0048.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219178461688575762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4_Kd5tgcI/AAAAAAAAARU/HU_RDkFgksk/s1600-h/DSC_0052.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG4_Kd5tgcI/AAAAAAAAARU/HU_RDkFgksk/s320/DSC_0052.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219178467226911170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CKpHPXKI/AAAAAAAAAR0/VW0EL7L5IOk/s1600-h/DSC_0071.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CKpHPXKI/AAAAAAAAAR0/VW0EL7L5IOk/s400/DSC_0071.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219181768771329186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">So, that was Woolfest this year. I can't wait to see what a commercial fiber show is going to be like. I wonder if I will be disappointed? Nah. </div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">Knit well and knit often.<br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">PS - Check out my loot...</div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CK35uYUI/AAAAAAAAAR8/iIM5zD4Vag0/s1600-h/DSC_0100.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CK35uYUI/AAAAAAAAAR8/iIM5zD4Vag0/s400/DSC_0100.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219181772741173570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;">Roving in 3 colors (Shetland and English 56's), Merino Tops and a needle for felting, handmade birch bag handles (for that bag I shall someday make), a copy of The Opinionated Knitter (which seems to be very hard to find), Gossamer Kid Mohair <splurge> in Gorgeous Plum, and a very cool necklace with dry felted black baubles from Mixed Fibres Textile Studio in Edinburgh. A close up of the fibers:</splurge></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CLfM1Q_I/AAAAAAAAASE/N4VmfVgBaUY/s1600-h/DSC_0108.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CLfM1Q_I/AAAAAAAAASE/N4VmfVgBaUY/s400/DSC_0108.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219181783290299378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CLehyDwI/AAAAAAAAASM/pnd4SkXqCNw/s1600-h/DSC_0144.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CLehyDwI/AAAAAAAAASM/pnd4SkXqCNw/s400/DSC_0144.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219181783109734146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">PPS - Check out Bearski's Caribbean Socks...</div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CLf8n2BI/AAAAAAAAASU/V7uDJCFp5RI/s1600-h/DSC_0151.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SG5CLf8n2BI/AAAAAAAAASU/V7uDJCFp5RI/s400/DSC_0151.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219181783490746386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></span></div></span><div align="center"></div></div></div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/07/welcome-to-woolfest-2008-alright-so-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-75316343242438269Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:41:00 +00002008-07-01T08:01:31.525-07:00memeHoly Succotash Batman, I've been memed!<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My knitting pal, <a href="http://audm.wordpress.com">Audrey</a>, tagged me with a meme. I was just thinking about wanting to be tagged with one yesterday when I found the comment in my inbox. Happy Meme-ing!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"><i><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Rules: Each player answers the five questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.</span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"><b><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1. What I was doing 10 years ago:</span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />In the summer of 1998, I had just finished my second year at university at UW in Seattle. I was living with my first year roommate, Jen, in a 2 BDR townhouse the Northgate neighborhood. And I was going out with a frat boy. That was also the year that I qualified for the program which gave me the scholarship to Germany … where I eventually was to meet my DH.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"><b><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2. What 5 things are on on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Post on my </span><a href="http://brittuniainmancunia.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">expat blog</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> since I haven’t in two weeks </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Apply for some more writing gigs</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Finish an article for a travel blog on wine festivals in Germany</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Work on a birthday gift for my darling girlfriend in SF, Alexis</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Go through a few books on freelance writing</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"><b><span style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3. Snacks I enjoy:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Burnt rice from the bottom of the pot (yes, I know I am wierd)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Popcorn with a melted butter/margarine, garlic powder and nutritional yeast mixture</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Oatcakes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style=";color:#333333;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sunflower or pumpkin seeds</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wheat Cereal Biscuits</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"><b><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4. Things I would do if I was a billionaire:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"></p><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">start my book/yarn/coffee shop/arts and craft gallery</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">design and build my own eco-house in Seattle (for which one has to be obscenely wealthy)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">take the cello again</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">fund local women’s and educational charities wherever I am</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">buy an incredible writing utensil</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">adopt a pair of pure bread pug puppies – black, of course</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"><b><span style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">5. Places I have lived:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><span style=";color:#333333;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Yakima, WA, USA</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Seattle, WA, USA</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Freiburg, Germany</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span style=";color:#333333;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mainz, Germany</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Vancouver, BC, Canada</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Manchester, England</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt"><span lang="EN-US" style=";color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am now tagging a few people I know and whose blogs I visit: </span><a href="http://greeneyedcrafts.livejournal.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Green Eyed Monsters</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span><a href="http://wanderlustknits.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wanderlustlost</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span><a href="http://www.domestic-miss.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Domestic Miss</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span><a href="http://bornknitty.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rubbish Knitter</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, and </span><a href="http://schloop.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Snailspace</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> .</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/07/holy-succotash-batman-ive-been-memed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-1410082430693358112Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:36:00 +00002008-06-23T11:01:48.856-07:00creative_freedomfrustrationinspirationknitknittingmultiple_projectspatternssoccerstitch'n'pitchsweaterUEFAWIPStich on the Pitch: UEFA Euro 2008 and Creative Freedom<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2603571771_18cc96ab93.jpg?v=0"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2603571771_18cc96ab93.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2592420509_92c2d6fb05.jpg?v=0"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2593261328_f9c5538bb1.jpg?v=0"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2604403422_c8ffce08c6.jpg?v=0"></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For the last two weeks, I have been obsessed with two things: soccer and deliberating if I should give my sweater baby a rest to start on something new.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Stitch on the Pitch</span></div><div>For all you Americans reading this, let me introduce you to two new concepts. First, I think Americans are the only English speakers who refer to a grassy area designated for sports play a 'field'. Here in the UK, sports are played on either a 'ground' or a 'pitch'. These two expressions are part of my newly found and gladly adopted British vocabulary.</div><div><br /></div><div>Second, there is a somewhat recent phenomenon in the US called 'Stitch n' Pitch' where a group of knitters get together and take their knitting projects to baseball games. I mean, how ingenious is that? What else are you going to do with all that downtime between pitches and innings? Here in this part of the world, baseball is not as prevalent as say, lawn bowling or snooker. So being as clever as I am, I decided to knit while watching sports taking place on a 'pitch'. And this time of year, that is UEFA's European Football (Soccer) Championships.</div><div><br /></div><div>For the last two and a half weeks, Matthias and I have been watching sometimes up to three hours of soccer a night! And for a while there, I had to put my sweater aside because the pattern was too daunting to follow while watching steamy ripped guys sweat buckets while running up and down a 'pitch' for 90 minutes. No, seriously, it was the sweater that was distracting me and not my lecherous voyeurism.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is only one part of the sweater break conundrum. You see, I have been working this pattern for over three months now. I frogged (unravelled) the back panel because the sleeves looked crappy and then I frogged the front because, even though the sleeves looked much better than the ones I had originally done for the back panel, it still was not what the pattern had exactly called for. I am a perfectionist. I am frustrated. I am bored. I am obviously distracted by sultry soccer studs and need some instant gratification project like a scarf or something. But, no way José was I going to let myself off the hook and do something different for a while. I keep such a tight leash on myself sometimes! I was going to finish that sweater come hell or high water. But not when the football is on. And, well, I am obsessed as I probably made clear in my <a href="http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/06/wwkip-day-fiber-frustrations-and.html">last post</a><a href="http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/06/wwkip-day-fiber-frustrations-and.html" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">.</span></a> I just have to knit. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2592420509_92c2d6fb05.jpg?v=0"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2592420509_92c2d6fb05.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; " /></a><div>I couldn't really start any thing new because I felt guilty and undisciplined. I leaved through websites and my collection books and patterns, but all to no avail. I kept returning to that crusty old thought pattern that said: 'You have to finish what you have started'. I deliberated for nearly two weeks about starting something new.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2593261328_f9c5538bb1.jpg?v=0"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2593261328_f9c5538bb1.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; " /></a><div>And, then like a knitting needle falling from the sky, it hit me straight in the eye and I saw. Through all my deliberating, I was actually de-liberating, or taking away, any creative freedom I was giving myself. I was deliberately (god, what a loaded word!) stifling the very thing I am consciously fostering in myself. I was just telling someone from my knitting group the other day that working multiple projects is just like reading several books simultaneously - something I know I am guilty of and I am sure you can relate, too. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Immediately after being struck by this insight, I actually got around to finishing a project that I had started almost four months ago and required very little other than a wicked mattress stitch: my OM Yoga Mat Bag. Finishing up this little project gave me back that creative freedom I had been depriving myself of through my old rigid thoughts on self-discipline. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2604403422_c8ffce08c6.jpg?v=0"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2604403422_c8ffce08c6.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And, as life would have it, I still was not able to find 'the' right pattern, so I decided to design one up myself: The Spumoni Scarf. It will still be a WIP for another little while. I am planning on attaching some wicked fringe and I have a few more soccer games to take in before next weekend. Let's go, Germany!</div><div><br /></div><div>My advice to you: if you have the inspiration to start something new, just do it. Don't worry about if, when, and how it will get done. Your project will just tell you what to do next and</div><div> when it is ready to be finished. By debating and deliberating over the birth of an idea only wastes the energy you could be spending knitting a Spumoni scarf. Knit well and knit often.</div></div></div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/06/stich-on-pitch-uefa-euro-2008-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5019230191894585564.post-473897658342918554Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:17:00 +00002008-12-11T14:46:32.123-08:00frustrationknittingoverloadparentingsweaterWWKIP DayWWKIP Day, Fiber Frustrations and Perpetual Inundation...It Must Be Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfd-jqPOSI/AAAAAAAAANs/GvDJKonSyX4/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfd-jqPOSI/AAAAAAAAANs/GvDJKonSyX4/s200/DSC_0075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212879160498665762" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfX1nVAH7I/AAAAAAAAAM0/52I9N6PvkWw/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></a></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfX1nVAH7I/AAAAAAAAAM0/52I9N6PvkWw/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">World Wide Knit in Public Day, Manchester</span></a></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">My knit and natter buddy, Kate, organized a KIP for the knitters of greater Manchester last weekend. Everyone was in prime form, the weather was cooperating and we made the world a little more aware that knitting is alive and kicking. Everyone brought some kind of goodie to share. Cake and cookies abounded. We were approached by who we assume to be an LYS owner with a voucher for 10% off our next yarn purchase. New friends were made. I got to know 3 other Yank expats. We dished on our knitting groups, yarn shops and favorite threads. Here are the ladies who stitched:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfd53eu6TI/AAAAAAAAANM/vyMsxCw0iF0/s1600-h/DSC_0079.JPG" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfd53eu6TI/AAAAAAAAANM/vyMsxCw0iF0/s200/DSC_0079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212879079919774002" style="cursor: pointer; " /> </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfn1xhaCyI/AAAAAAAAAOE/xS6QWRRU_I0/s1600-h/DSC_0074.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfn1xhaCyI/AAAAAAAAAOE/xS6QWRRU_I0/s200/DSC_0074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212890004717177634" style="cursor: pointer; " /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfn2czjHsI/AAAAAAAAAOM/oBA70gdG29s/s1600-h/DSC_0077.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfn2czjHsI/AAAAAAAAAOM/oBA70gdG29s/s200/DSC_0077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212890016335994562" style="cursor: pointer; " /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfd-HYrn-I/AAAAAAAAANk/H01-3_f565E/s1600-h/DSC_0076.JPG" style=""><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfd-HYrn-I/AAAAAAAAANk/H01-3_f565E/s200/DSC_0076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212879152908836834" style="cursor: pointer; " /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfd-HYrn-I/AAAAAAAAANk/H01-3_f565E/s1600-h/DSC_0076.JPG" style=""> </a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfd8nSl0aI/AAAAAAAAANU/9id8Juhce-M/s1600-h/DSC_0078.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfd8nSl0aI/AAAAAAAAANU/9id8Juhce-M/s200/DSC_0078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212879127113486754" style="cursor: pointer; " /></span></span></a> <br /><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Fiber Frustrations and Perpetual Inundation</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfX2taXsQI/AAAAAAAAANE/dBz0EyUUKBI/s1600-h/DSC_0007.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfX2taXsQI/AAAAAAAAANE/dBz0EyUUKBI/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212872428607746306" /></a>This part of today's post is more along a personal note. Once and a while posts have to be. I have been having these strange feelings over the last 6 months or so. They have been growing steadily and emerging slowly over the last six months. I don't know what is coming over me. It is tormenting. It is titillating. It is absolutely consuming. It is knitting.<div><br /></div><div>I started my first big, intermediate project about two and a half months ago. I have posted about the Cap Sleeved Sweater aka the misshapen Frankenstein sweater. I frogged the back panel after I had knit the front and produced two lovely little sleevelets. It was then I realized that I had misread the pattern and the sleeves came out like everyone's favorite Victorian monster. The third time was the charm and the sleeves came out stunningly and I am confident this time that I interpreted the pattern correctly. But, to my dismay, I didn't quite get the decrease right on the front panel. So, I guess we will be frogging again, this time the top of the front panel. Hopefully my husband is available to roll the wool and there is some schmaltzy documentary on British monarchs on the tube.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfp96LfW1I/AAAAAAAAAOU/Xbwz1LKGVD8/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUgMMxZTB0Q/SFfp96LfW1I/AAAAAAAAAOU/Xbwz1LKGVD8/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212892343503379282" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; " /></a><div> I will not be frogging as much as an entire panel, it really seems like this is the never ending project. I have thought about doing some smaller instant gratification jobs like scarves for girlfriends and sisters-in-law, but I can't bring myself to find a pattern, let alone begin knitting one other than my beloved sweater. </div><div><br /></div><div>Working this sweater is a taste of mothering an insolent child. I am so infuriated by it and the whole process of forming it. And at the same time, I house an inexplicable love that conflicts with all the frustrations I experience. Sometimes gladly, sometimes spartanically, I deny myself the joys of other odysseys and adventures, just so I can bring this sweater to full fruition. What is a girl to do? Keep knitting, sister.</div><div><br /></div><div>The good news is that the universe has brought me an abundance of new ideas, passions and friends, so that I am perpetually inundated my new mags, websites, blogs, and all the fibery, yarny stimuli a girl could ask for. I was luck to find a dress form at a charity shop. It was a steal! It is wonderful, but often accompanied with feelings around lack of time. I have a stack of 6 new magazines I want to devour every inch of. There are six books novels collecting dust on my night stand because I can only read so fast before I fall asleep. I have a mental queue of projects, yarns and other crafty projects I want to do, but I can't. Not until I finish what I have started.</div><div><br /></div><div>Above is a peek at the marvelous sweater baby I love to hate upon reaching the end of its adolescence. I will be back soon with a few more of my web knitting finds. Until then: Knit well. Knit often.</div></div></div></div>http://brittknit.blogspot.com/2008/06/wwkip-day-fiber-frustrations-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (brittunia)2